Dogs have followed humans for thousands of years—without leashes. Wolves initially began following people to scavenge food. Over time, as their hunger overcame their fear, they ventured closer, eventually becoming domesticated. Domestication simply means humans could physically touch them. These wolves learned that the closer they stayed to hunters, the more food they received. Over generations, these wolves evolved into the diverse breeds we have today.
Dogs naturally walk in the heel position (with their front paws near our heels). This behavior is an adaptation from their pack movement. In a pack, all members focus on the leader; when the leader moves, they move; when the leader stops, they stop. By staying near the leader’s feet, a dog can see which direction the leader’s feet are pointing, helping them react accordingly. If the leader stops, it signals a perceived threat or resource. Moving beyond that point could alert the target, which might mean losing a meal or facing danger.
When a dog moves with a human handler, staying in the heel position allows them to see the handler’s foot direction and facial expressions. This mimics how a child looks to an adult for cues on how to react. However, when humans pick up a leash, they often bend their arms and focus on the dog instead of their surroundings, which is unnatural. No other human movement mimics leash handling. When people feel leash tension or see a dog moving ahead, their natural response is to bend their arms—an instinctive reaction meant to protect the head and chest. This upward pressure on the dog’s trachea makes the dog instinctively pull forward to relieve it, reinforcing pulling behavior.
Many owners, concerned about choking, switch to a harness. However, as with horses, applying rearward pressure with a harness triggers a natural resistance, causing the dog to pull more. The same applies to collars, including chokers, slip leads, and prong collars. These tools rotate to align with the dog’s spine, encouraging pulling as the dog seeks relief from pressure.
The Immediate Correction Lead (ICL) is a simple slip lead, but its placement makes all the difference. When properly adjusted, it rests on the side of the neck with the adjuster just under the jawbone. This positioning prevents unnecessary pressure on the trachea unless the handler bends their arm. The adjuster sits over the baroreceptor in the carotid artery, which regulates blood pressure. This area is where mother dogs apply pressure to calm puppies. The ICL mimics this sensation, similar to how a weighted blanket soothes someone with autism. However, this calming effect is only realized when there is no external tension on the lead. When puppies are very young, Mom will “bop” them with their here nose to get them to stop whatever it is that they are doing. As they mature, she will begin to use their teeth to them to condition them to corrrect and be corrected by other dogs.
With the ICL, a dog naturally walks in the “heel zone”—the space where they feel only the gentle, calming pressure of the lead without external force. Unlike prong collars, which rely on pressure to control the dog, the ICL relies on the absence of pressure. When force is applied, animals instinctively resist it. Think of it as getting a horse to neck reign with the bit in their mouth. The ICL removes force, eliminating resistance.
Dogs quickly learn that maintaining the heel position avoids tension altogether. When a dog pulls forward, the handler simply holds their arm down, looks over their shoulder, and slowly walks the opposite direction. The pressure remains until the dog looks at the handler, at which point it is instantly released. In dog behavior, when a higher-ranking dog turns its back to something, it signals that the object is not a threat, encouraging de-escalation. This technique conditions dogs to ignore potential triggers by redirecting their focus to the handler.
Handling the leash correctly is also essential for safety. Most people (about 93%) are right-handed. Handling a dog with the right hand or using both hands restricts their ability to react in emergencies. If the lead is wrapped around the right hand or looped, it effectively ties weight to the dominant hand. Therefore, whenever possible, handlers should use the non-dominant hand, keeping the strong hand free for safety and practical tasks.
A well-trained dog does not require leash control; the leash is simply a safety and communication tool. Once a dog understands triggers through the reset method, a quick, relaxed “pop” on the lead serves as a simple reminder to focus on the handler. Whether inside, on a quiet street, or in a busy city, the two corrections remain the same. Regardless of why a dog puts tension on the lead, they quickly learn that focusing on the handler eliminates it, allowing them to walk on a loose lead, and avoid correction, guided by a single fingertip.
In the video, the trainer continuously focuses on the dog rather than the environment, which weakens leadership and confidence. Without tension, handling multiple dogs is effortless. The trainer also discourages sniffing. However, dogs use both air and ground scents. Since the handler should be looking ahead, they can see where the dog’s nose is. As long as the leash remains loose, sniffing is not an issue. If a dog catches a scent and applies rearward tension, turning to face them reinforces the importance of that scent. Instead, continuing forward signals that the scent is irrelevant.
The prong collar is unnecessary, as commands and treats can complicate communication. With the ICL, dogs remain on a loose leash 95% of the time, only receiving corrections when needed. This is why dogs can learn to heel off-lead in such a short time. The prong collar relies on correction, while the ICL allows dogs to avoid correction by naturally focusing on the handler.
By the time someone finishes watching a prong collar tutorial, multiple family members could already be walking the dog on one fingertip using the ICL. The natural way is always the better way. Whether addressing pulling, counter-surfing, door-dashing, or jumping, a quick pop on the lead reminds the dog to focus on the handler. A light pop on the lead always means “don’t do that” and if they do they will receive the same correction. Free of stress, yelling, yanking, and pulling. The intensity of the pop is in direct relation the consequence if the behavior continues. So, the dog does not get the same pop intensity for putting pressure on the lead as say for example if they lunge at another dog or person or attempt to chase the family cat. When they are used to enjoying a loose lead, the lightest pop has great effect. The same way that a child who seldom needs to be corrected reacts to a light pop on the mouth or butt. Any correction without love is abuse. The first positive consequence is a loose lead; the second is praise, eye contact, and affection. Dogs communicate through eye contact, movement, and touch. When led correctly, they recognize the handler as the higher-ranking pack member, naturally focusing on movement and correction or praise delivered with touch. It is their choice, but the structure remains the same: follow the leader and maintain a loose lead for a calm and controlled walk.
Psalm 32:8-9
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. 9 Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.